Collapsible combustion container devices and associated methods

ABSTRACT

Collapsible combustion containers are disclosed and described. Such combustion containers generally include a plurality of vertically oriented panels joined by hinges. The hinges include hinge pins that can be configured to form at least part of a base that supports the container or at least part of a heating platform above the container or both. Further, the panels can contain one or more fuel openings which allow a user to control placement of fuel in the container inserted from each opening so as to select a point inside the container where the fuel will converge and combust.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/337,063, filed Jul. 21, 2014, which claims priority to and thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/857,171, filed onJul. 22, 2013, and claims priority to and the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/857,594, filed on Jul. 23, 2013.application Ser. No. 14/337,063 is also a Continuation-in-Part of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/023,766, filed on Feb. 9, 2011, which claimspriority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/302,665, filed on Feb. 9, 2010. All of the above-identifiedapplications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to collapsible devices for containinga combustion reaction and methods for use thereof.

BACKGROUND

Portable stoves and other devices that allow the preparation andcontainment of a fire or other manner of combustion are often used whencamping or during times of an emergency. Such devices are useful forcooking, water purification, heat, as well as other numerous uses.

Many of such devices can be light weight and portable. Because of thisconscience effort to reduce size and weight, most of such devices alsodepend on a fuel canister in order to provide fuel for the fire. Whilefuel canisters are convenient, they typically provide only a finite andlimited amount of fuel and will eventually become useless if notrefilled once empty. Furthermore, such canisters present an extra objectof significant size and weight to be carried by a user. By contrast,portable devices which are capable of utilizing wood or other fuelsources present the advantage of being able to use a perpetual supply offuel that can be found in nature. The general drawback is that, suchdevices are often heavy, require assembly of several pieces, or arebulky to transport or store.

One problem in attempting to reduce the size and bulk of devices thatutilize wood or other solid fuel sources is that as the device becomessmaller, the chamber that is capable of holding fuel must becomesmaller. Unlike liquid or gas fuels, wood and other solid fuels do nottypically allow for heat to be precisely focused or varied in intensity,and are limited to the overall area provided by the combustion chamber.Thus by limiting the space in which such fuels can combust, the amountof heat and energy released is greatly reduced. If a combustion chamberis made too small, the heat produced can be limited to the point that itbecomes less useful for activities requiring significant heat such ascooking and boiling water. Moreover, as the overall size of the deviceshrinks, so does the available effective cooking surface upon which apot, pan, or other cooking device can be placed.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides collapsible combustioncontainer devices that are capable of utilizing a variety of solid fuelsand producing a significant heat output from a relatively small chambersize or area. Such devices are typically light weight, and capable ofcollapsing into a small (i.e. nearly flat) configuration for storage andportability.

In one implementation, such a device can take the form of a combustioncontainer that includes a plurality of vertically oriented panels joinedby hinges and a plurality of hinge pins engaged in a plurality of thehinges. The hinge pins can be configured to form at least part of a basethat supports the container, or at least part of a heating platformabove the container, or both. Additionally, at least two of thevertically oriented panels can contain fuel openings. Such fuel openingsare configured to facilitate control of combustion within the containerat a location where fuel inserted through one opening converges with orotherwise contacts fuel inserted from another opening.

Implementations additionally include methods of controlling a size of abase and/or a heating platform of a collapsible combustion container andmethods of controlling a location of combustion inside a combustioncontainer. In the case of the former, generally, such methods includeproviding a container as recited herein, and actuating (i.e. rotating)an end of the hinge pins in the container in a manner selected to eitherexpand or reduce a size of a base or a heating platform, or both. In thelatter case, such methods include providing a container as recitedherein and inserting fuel pieces through fuel openings in the containersuch that the fuel pieces from each opening converge at a locationwithin the container that is the desired combustion location.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, various features so thatthe detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood,and so that the present contribution to the art may be betterappreciated. Other features are described in the following detaileddescription, taken with the accompanying claims, or may be learned bythe practice of the implementations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a corner top perspective view of a combustion container inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a top side perspective view of a combustion container inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a corner top perspective view from a corner adjacent to thecorner of FIG. 1, of a combustion container in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a combustion container in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view from a corner of a combustion container inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a combustion container in accordance with anembodiment.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a side adjacent to the side shown in FIG.6 in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a side adjacent to the side shown in FIG.7 and across from the side shown in FIG. 6 in accordance with anembodiment.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a side adjacent to the sides shown inFIGS. 6 and 8 and across from the side shown in FIG. 7 according to anembodiment.

FIG. 10 is a top corner perspective view showing hinge pins rotated intoa position that expands the base and heating platform of the device inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a top side view showing hinge pins rotated into a positionthat expands the base and heating platform of the device in accordancewith one embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an additional top corner perspective view showing hinge pinsrotated into a position that expands the base and heating platform ofthe device in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a bottom corner perspective view showing hinge pins rotatedinto a position that expands the base and heat platform of the devicewith the combustion plate folded flat against an inside of a verticalpanel to which it is hingedly attached in accordance with an embodiment.

FIGS. 14-18 show a method of collapsing a combustion container inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 19 shows a side view of a combustion container in a closedconfiguration in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 20 shows a bottom view of the device as collapsed in FIG. 19according to an embodiment.

FIG. 21 shows a top view of a combustion container with pieces of fuelinserted into the container through fuel openings and converging at apoint in an overlapping or stacked manner in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 22 shows a top perspective view of the device and fuel as arrangedin FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 shows a top perspective view of the device in an embodimentwhich includes loop shaped feet.

FIG. 24 illustrates a hinge pin having multiple portions.

FIG. 25 illustrates an implementation of a hinge pin.

FIGS. 26A and 26B illustrate a variation of the hinge pin shown in FIG.25.

FIGS. 27A through 27D are diagrams that illustrate support pinsaccording to an implementation.

FIG. 28 is a diagram that illustrates coupling of the support pin shownin FIGS. 27A through 27D to a panel.

FIG. 29 is a diagram that illustrates coupling of the support pin to thecontainer in a closed configuration.

FIG. 30 illustrates a grill plate according to an implementation.

FIG. 31 is a diagram that illustrates a perspective view of a blockingplate according to an implementation.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view that illustrates the blocking plate shownin FIG. 31 coupled to a container.

FIGS. 33A through 33C are diagrams that illustrate various views ofanother container.

FIG. 34 is a diagram that illustrates another support pin.

FIG. 35 is a diagram that illustrates a combustion plate with openings.

FIG. 36 is a diagram that illustrates a view of the container shown inFIGS. 33A through 33C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a container 10 (which can be referred to as acollapsible combustion container) in accordance with one embodiment. Thecontainer 10 generally has a first pair of vertically oriented panels20A, 20B joined to one another by a hinge 30A. A second pair ofvertically oriented panels 20C, 20D is also joined by a hinge 30C. Inone embodiment the panels of the first pair 20A, 20B may each have anequal width, or a substantially equal width, and the panels of thesecond pair 20C, 20D may each have an equal width or substantially equalwidth that is less than the width of the panels of the first pair 20. Athird hinge 30B joins one panel from the first pair (e.g., panel 20B) toone panel of the second pair (e.g., panel 20C), and a fourth hinge 30Djoins the other panel (e.g., panel 20A) from the first pair to the otherpanel (e.g., panel 20D) of the second pair such that the pairs of panels(20A through 20D) form a box shaped perimeter. The box shaped perimetermay generally have an outside or exterior surface 5 (which can belabeled A through D to correspond with the panels) and an inside orinterior surface 6 (which can be labeled A through D to correspond withthe panels). The interior surface defines a chamber 7 (also can bereferred to as a container). The chamber 7 (or open space) created ordefined within the interior surfaces 5 of the panels 20A through 20D aresuitable for containing or housing a combustion reaction, such as afire.

In this description, the vertical direction is aligned along thedirection of the hinges 30A through 30D (which can collectively bereferred to as hinges 30). This direction is illustrated as direction A1or as direction A2 in FIG. 1. Direction A1 is pointing toward a top (orcooking end) of the container 10 and direction A2 is pointing toward abottom (or support end) of the container 10. A horizontal (or lateral)direction or plane is aligned substantially orthogonal to the directionsA1, A2. These directions A1, A2 are shown in many of the various views.

FIGS. 13-18 illustrate a sequence for collapsing the container 10 inaccordance with one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 13, the container 10stands fully open (in an open configuration) with the combustion plate100 raised and folded against vertical panel 20B, to which it ishingedly attached via hinge 110.

As shown in FIG. 14, a first step in collapsing the container 10 is tomove the interior surfaces (e.g., 5C, 5D) of the second pair of panels20C, 20D toward the interior surfaces (e.g., 5A, 5B) of the first pairof panels 20A, 20B, or alternatively, to move each pair of panels towardthe other. This effectively moves hinge 30A toward hinge 30C. In sodoing panels 20B, 20C coupled via hinge 30B and panels 20A, 20D coupledvia hinge 30D each rotate from an approximate 90 degree angle to anangle that is 30 degrees or less. The angles are labeled as D1 and D2 inFIGS. 13 and 14. Further, panels 20A, 20B coupled via hinge 30A rotatesfrom an approximate 90 degree angle to an angle of from 150 degrees to180 degrees as do the panels 20C, 20D coupled via hinge 30C. Theseangles are labeled as D3 and D4 in FIGS. 13 and 14. Because of a reliefspace feature 80 (shown in at least FIG. 1), the angle D3 may not be thesame as the angle D4. Similarly, the angle D1 may not be the same as theangle D2.

When moved far enough toward one another, the pairs of panels willeventually substantially contact one another. For example, panel 20Afrom the first pair 20A, 20B will substantially contact (or willcontact) panel 20D from the second pair 20C, 20D. As shown in FIG. 14,the combustion plate 100 is disposed between the panel 20B and the panel20C. In such implementations, the interior surface 5B of panel 20B(which can only be partially seen in this view through the combustionplate 100) may not contact the interior surface 5C of panel 20C. In thisconfiguration, the hinges 30B and 30D can be referred to as being closedor in a closed configuration (also can be referred to as a collapsedconfiguration or state). In FIG. 15, the panels 20 and 40 are shownmoved even closer together.

In FIG. 16, the second step in collapsing the container 10 is shown. Atthis point in the collapse process, each of the second pair of panels20C, 20D is brought together so that the exterior surfaces 6C, 6Dthereof move toward one another (along directions G1, G2). Such motionnow begins moving the hinge 30A from its previous 150 degree to 180degree position to a closed position. Further, hinge 40 is moved fromits previous 180 degrees to a further obtuse angle which will eventuallyclose when the hinge reaches an angle of approximately 27 degrees fromits starting orientation. As such, in one embodiment, three hinges(e.g., hinges 30A, 30B, and 30D) may be located substantially on theinside of the combustion container 10 and one hinge (e.g., hinge 30C)can be located substantially on the outside. FIG. 17 shows yet furtherprogress in moving panels 20C, 20D toward one another. FIG. 18 shows thefinal collapsed configuration of the container with all hingescompletely closed and the second pair of panels 20C, 20D held betweenthe first pair of panels 20A, 20B and the outside surfaces 6C, 6D ofeach panel of the second pair 20C, 20D in substantial contact with oneanother so that in the collapsed configuration (or closedconfiguration), the container 10 will be flat with the first pair ofpanels 20A, 20B on the outside of (or disposed around) the second pairof panels 20C, 20D and being oriented substantially parallel to oneanother. FIG. 19 shows the combustion container 10 in a fully collapsedposition (or closed configuration) and FIG. 20 provides a bottom view ofthe same.

The ability of the container to be oriented into such a flat finalcollapsed position (or closed configuration) with the panels of thesecond pair held between the panels of the first pair is provided byrelief space feature 80. Referring again to FIG. 1, one example of sucha feature is shown. Further, such feature is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and6. In this embodiment, the relief space feature 80 is a crease, or bend,or fold, created in one of the panels of the first pair 20A, 20B. As canbe seen, the relief space feature 80 runs substantially the entirelength of the panel and is parallel, or substantially parallel to avertical edge thereof. Moreover, the relief space feature 80 has a bendof sufficient size to create a relief space that accommodates the entirethickness of the second pair of panels 20C, 20D, and in some embodimentsthe combustion plate 100. The amount of relief space needed can beselected in order to achieve a specific result as needed. For example,as the thickness of the panels of the second pair 20C, 20D vary, so canthe amount of relief space provided. This can be achieved by controllingthe angle and/or width of the crease or bend. Further, in some aspects,multiple creases or bends can be used.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the relief space feature 80 may be locatedlaterally at any desired point in the panel (e.g., panel 20B). However,in one aspect, it may be located between the middle of the panel (e.g.,panel 20B) and the hinge (e.g., hinge 30A) joining the panels of thefirst pair 20A, 20B. In another aspect, the relief space feature 80 maybe located at a location that substantially matches a location to whichthe hinge 30C joining the pair of second panels 20C, 20D extends betweenthe first pair of panels 20A, 20B when the container is in a fullycollapsed (or closed) orientation or configuration. This is true whenone or multiple bends, creases, or folds are used to create the reliefspace feature 80.

In another embodiment, the relief space feature 80 may include multiplebends, folds, or creases in the same panel (e.g., only panel 20B) oradjacent panels (e.g., panel 20A and 20B). Each crease, bend, or foldruns the entire length (i.e. height) of the panel, and runssubstantially parallel to a vertical edge thereof. The cumulative foldor bend of such feature will typically have a size that is cumulativelysufficient to create a relief space that accommodates the entirethickness of the folded panels of the second pair 20C, 20D. In someembodiments, one crease, bend, or fold may be located proximate to onehinge of a panel and a second crease, bend, or fold may be locatedproximate to the other hinge of the same panel. In other words, onecrease, bend, or fold may be proximate to the hinge 30A joining thepanels 20A, 20B of the first pair, while the second crease, fold, orbend may be located in the same panel, but proximate to either the thirdhinge 30B or the fourth hinge 30D. In some aspects, both panels of thefirst pair 20A, 20B may have relief space features that include two ormore bends, creases, or folds as recited herein. For example, bothpanels 20A, 20B may have a relief space feature adjacent to hinge 30A(i.e. one on each side of hinge 30A). Such creases or folds would beconsistent with the other embodiments of relief space features recitedherein.

Referring now to FIG. 2, is shown an optional combustion plate 100.Combustion plate 100 can be a surface upon which, or over which, thecombustion reaction, such as a fire, may take place. In someembodiments, the combustion plate 100 may be hingedly joined with thehinge 110 to one of the panels of either the first (e.g., 20A, 20B) orsecond pair (e.g., 20C, 20D), and in yet a further embodiment, the hinge110 may allow the combustion plate 100 to pivot in an upward directionbetween the panels when the combustion container 10 is being collapsedfor storage. In such a case, the combustion plate 100 will also fit intothe relief space defined by the relief space feature 80 and thethickness of the relief space may be adjusted to accommodate thepresence of the combustion plate 100.

In some embodiments the combustion plate 100 may be attached either to apanel of the first pair 20A, 20B or a panel of the second pair 20C, 20D.In one specific embodiment, the combustion plate 100 may be attached toa panel of the first pair which has a relief space feature 80 therein.In another embodiment, the combustion plate 100 may be attached to apanel of the second pair 20C, 20D which folds up against the panel ofthe first pair 20A, 20B having the relief space feature 80 therein. Inanother embodiment, the combustion plate 100 may not fold between thepanels when the container 10 is collapsed, but may fold toward anoutside surface (e.g., one or more of the exterior surfaces 6A through6D) thereof instead.

In some implementations, the combustion plate 100 may have a non-squareshape. For example, each side of the combustion plate 100 can have adifferent length. At least one of the corners (e.g., two of the corners175C, 175D shown in FIG. 4) of the combustion plate 100, on the hingedlycoupled side of the combustion plate 100 can be, can have right angles(e.g., 90 degree angles, or substantially 90 degree angles) and theremaining corners 175A, 175B (shown in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 16) of thecombustion plate 100 can define an acute angle or an obtuse angle. Insome implementations, more than 3 corners of the combustion plate 100can define an angle that is not a right angle.

As shown in FIG. 13, in one embodiment, the one of the vertical panels20A through 20D may have tabs 120 formed along thereof. The tabs 120receive a swinging end 130 of the combustion plate 100 when it isdeployed into a horizontal orientation (as shown in FIG. 2) for use. Thetabs 120 may each be aligned along a plane non-parallel to (e.g.,orthogonal to) a plane of the panels 20A through 20D. Such tabs may belocated on the bottom of any of the vertical panels 20A through 20D.However, in one embodiment, the tabs are located at the bottom of apanel (e.g., panel 20D) opposite a panel (e.g., panel 20B) to which thehinge 110 for actuating the combustion plate 100 is attached. Onceoriented into a lowered position, the combustion plate 100 creates aflat surface extending across the bottom of the chamber 7 (e.g., openspace or combustion space) of the container 10. The flat surfaceeffectively forms the bottom of the box defined by the container 10 whenin an open configuration and can then be used to support a combustionreaction, such as a fire or other form of combustion. Additionalmechanisms, such as ledges or tabs, slots, grooves, etc. can be used tocatch and engage the swinging edge (non-hinged side) of the combustionplate 100. As depicted, the combustion plate 100 includes a plurality ofapertures or holes therein for the purposes of ventilation. Such holesare optional, but when present can take nearly any shape or size desiredin order to achieve a specific end result, and may in some aspects bespecifically formed to accommodate a specific level of ventilation for aspecific combustion material. Moreover, the combustion plate 100 neednot be fixed in position, or located only along the bottom edge of onepanel as shown. Rather, the plate can be positioned at any height withinthe open space of the container 10 and can be either permanently ortemporarily fastened therein, for example by providing ledges or slotsor grooves into on which the combustion plate 100 can rest. In someembodiments, the combustion plate 100 may not be hingedly affixed to thebottom edge of any of the panels 20A through 20D at all, but rathermultiple or more than one of the panels 20A through 20D may have tabs120 and the combustion plate 100 may merely rest on top thereof.

In one embodiment, an ash tray (not shown in FIGS. 1-23) may be used tocollect ashes or other debris falling from the combustion plate 100.Generally the ash tray is a solid sheet of material that is combustionproof or fire proof, such as the metal material of the rest of thecontainer unit. In some aspects the ash tray is substantially flat, andmay in some embodiments have upwardly curling edges on opposing endsthereof. Such ends facilitate or ease the ability of a user to grasp theash tray when placed on the ground or other flat surface. Additionally,in some embodiments, the ash tray may have a handle or other featureswhich allow its handling when hot. The ash tray may in some embodimentsengage the combustion container below the combustion plate and beeffectively suspended above the ground. In one example, the ash tray mayrest on protrusions or non-vertical segments of the hinge pins. In otherembodiments, the ash tray may simply rest on the ground underneath thecombustion container. More details related to the ash tray are describedin connection with at least FIG. 33A

Other features may be included such as varying panel height, dampers,hook pins, etc., as recited in Applicant's co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/023,766, filed on Feb. 9, 2011, which isincorporated herein by reference.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the hinges 30A, 30C, 30B, and 30D joining theplurality of panels 20A through 20D use hinge pins 130. The hinge pins130 (or portions thereof) can be labeled or referred to incorrespondence with the hinges 30A through 30D. For example, the hingepin 130 (or portions thereof) associated with hinge 30A can be referredto as hinge pin 130A. Portions of the panels 20A through 20D define oneor more a sleeves (also can be referred to as a knuckle) (e.g., sleeve33C) having an opening (e.g., opening 32C) through which the hinge pins130 (e.g., a body portion of the hinge pins 130) can be inserted todefine the hinges 30A through 30D.

The hinge pins 130 generally include a straight vertical segment (e.g.,a body segment or portion) which runs through or functions as part ofthe hinges 30A through 30D. However, in some embodiments, such hingepins 130 may include one or more non-vertical segments in order toincrease the use and function of the hinge pins 130 beyond their role ofsimply aiding the hinges 30A through 30D in holding the panels 20Athrough 20D together.

In some embodiments, the hinge pins 130 can be configured to form atleast part of, or all of, a base that supports the combustion container.As shown in FIG. 6, in some embodiments, one or more of the hinge pins130 can each include one or more non-vertical segments 140 (which can bereferred to as support segments) below the container 10. For example,the hinge pin 130A includes a non-vertical segment 140A. In thisimplementation, the non-vertical segment 140A is shown as a bend in thehinge pin 130A. Such non-vertical segments may be used to hold thecontainer above, for example, a ground, and in some embodiments theheight above the ground may be a predetermined height based on thelocation of the non-vertical segment 140. In some embodiments, ratherthan a bend, the non-vertical segment may take the form of a knob,protrusion, bump, etc., which is of sufficient to hold the container 10above the ground, for example, by allowing the hinges 30 (e.g., a bottomsurface of hinge 30A) of the container 10 to rest on the non-verticalsegments 140 (e.g., non-vertical segment 140A).

Also as shown in FIG. 6, the hinge pins 130 can include one or moreadditional non-vertical segments 150 (which can be referred to as basesegments or lower non-vertical segments) which may be aligned parallelto (or substantially parallel to) a bottom of the container 10 (orpanels 20A through 20D thereof). Such segments may form “feet” which area part of a base upon which the container 10 or box rests. While thefeet may take nearly any form, size, or shape that is convenient ordesired, in some aspects, such non-vertical segments may be a bend ofabout 90 degrees in the hinge pins 130. As shown in FIG. 6, one specificconfiguration for the non-vertical segments 150 (e.g., non-verticalsegment 150A) is as a substantially straight segment or line (orthogonalto other portions of the hinge pins 130). For example, the non-verticalsegment 150A can be aligned orthogonal to a portion of the hinge pin130A disposed within the hinge 30A. Accordingly, the non-verticalsegments 150A through 150D can be disposed within or aligned along ahorizontal plane P1 orthogonal to the vertical directions A1, A2. Insome implementations, less than all of the non-vertical segments 150Athrough 150D can be disposed within or aligned along the horizontalplane P1.

In some implementations, the non-vertical segments 150 can have a squareshape, a curved shape, a looped shape, and so forth. In someimplementations one or more of the non-vertical segments 150 can havedifferent shapes. For example, although not shown, the non-verticalsegment 150A can have a first shape (e.g., a loop shape) and thenon-vertical segment 150B can be a straight segment.

As a specific example, as shown in FIG. 23, the non-vertical segments150 may take the form of a loop. Such configurations are useful forsecuring the combustion container 10 to the ground or other soft surfacewith stakes or pins, etc. For example, when using the container 10 in anoutdoor setting it may be useful to utilize tent stakes inserted throughthe loops of the non-vertical segments 150 to secure the container tothe ground. In this manner a greater amount of stability may be obtainedwhen placing cookware on the heating platform that are of a moderate tolarge size. It should be further noted that the overall length of thehinge pins 130 may be selected in order to achieve any specificallydesired effect or utility, such as varying the height above the groundat which the combustion container 10 is held.

In addition to forming a part, or the entire base, the hinge pins 130may additional form a portion or all of a heating platform (or heatingsupport platform) above the container 10. In one embodiment, the hingepins 130 may extend past the top of the container 10 (or the panels 20Athrough 20D thereof) and have a non-vertical segment 160 disposed abovethe container 10 (or the panels 20A through 20D thereof). Thenon-vertical segments 160 can be referred to as platform segments or asupper non-vertical segments. In some aspects, the non-vertical segments160 disposed above the container 10 may form a portion, or all of, aheating platform above the container 10. Nearly any shape orconfiguration suitable to form part of, or the entire heating platformmay be used for the non-vertical segments 160. However, in one aspect,the non-vertical segments 160 may be or define a bend of about 90degrees. For example, the non-vertical segment 160A can be alignedorthogonal to (or substantially orthogonal to) a portion of the hingepin 130A disposed within the hinge 30A. Accordingly, the non-verticalsegments 160A through 160D can be disposed within or aligned along ahorizontal plane P2 orthogonal to the vertical directions A1, A2. Thusthe non-vertical segments 160 disposed above the container 10 may form aportion, or all of, a heating platform above the container 10. In someimplementations, less than all of the non-vertical segments 160A through160D can be disposed within or aligned along the horizontal plane P2.

In some implementations, the non-vertical segments 160 can have a squareshape, a curved shape, a looped shape, and so forth. In someimplementations one or more of the non-vertical segments 160 can havedifferent shapes. For example, although not shown, the non-verticalsegment 160A can have a first shape (e.g., a loop shape) and thenon-vertical segment 160B can be a straight segment.

In some embodiments the hinge pins 130 can be defined using multiplepieces which are coupled together somewhere inside the hinges 30.However, in other embodiments, each of the hinge pins 130 can be singlepiece (or monolithic component) running through the entirety of eachrespective hinge 30. Having the hinge pins 130 as single piece providesthe convenience of allowing actuation of one end of the hinge pin 130simultaneously turning the other end. For example, non-vertical segment160A is rotated axially around a portion of the hinge pin 130A disposedwithin the hinge 30A when non-vertical segment 150A is rotated. In someimplementations, each of the hinge pins 130 can be configured to rotate360 degrees (or less) within their respective hinges 30.

As shown in FIG. 6, the various portions of the hinge pins 130 aredisposed within a single plane. For example, the non-vertical segment140A (i.e., support segment 140A), the non-vertical segment 150A (i.e.,base segment 150A), and the non-vertical segment 160A (i.e., platformsegment) are disposed within or aligned the same plane. In someimplementations, the non-vertical segment 140A, the non-vertical segment150A, and the non-vertical segment 160A may be disposed within oraligned along different planes. For example, the non-vertical segment160A and/or non-vertical segment 140A may be aligned along a line (or awithin a plane) that is non-parallel to (e.g., orthogonal to) a line (orwithin a plane) along which the non-vertical segment 150A is aligned.Various views of hinge pins are illustrated in FIGS. 25 through 26B.

FIG. 25 illustrates a side view of the hinge pin 130A. As shown in FIG.25, the hinge pin 130A the non-vertical segment 140A (i.e., supportsegment 140A), the non-vertical segment 150A (i.e., base segment 150A),and the non-vertical segment 160A (i.e., platform segment). As shown inFIG. 25, the non-vertical segment 150A is disposed between non-verticalsegment 140A and non-vertical segment 160A. However, the non-verticalsegment 150A is disposed to one side (within a medial portion) of amid-point X along the hinge pin 130A.

In this implementation, the features of the non-vertical segments 140A,150A, 160A may be entirely disposed within or aligned along a plane (notshown). In some implementations, one or more of the non-verticalsegments 140A, 150A, 160A may be rotated axially such that one or morefeatures of the hinge pin 130A may not be disposed within or alignedalong a single plane. Such an implementation is illustrated in FIG. 26A.As shown in FIG. 26A, the non-vertical segment 140A is rotated 90° withrespect to the non-vertical segment 160A (rotated about an axis alignedalong the hinge pin 130A). A view of the hinge pin 130A from direction Yis illustrated in FIG. 26B. In some implementations one or more of thenon-vertical segments 140A through 160A may be rotated axially (about anaxis along the hinge pin 130A).

Referring to FIGS. 1-9, the upper non-vertical segments 160 of the hingepins 130 and the lower non-vertical segments of the hinge pins 150 areoriented to face substantially inwardly toward a center of thecontainer. In such a configuration, the heating platform formed by theupper non-vertical segments 160 is suitable for small cookingimplements, such as pots or pans to rest thereon. However, as shown inFIGS. 10-12, the upper non-vertical segments 160 are rotated to orientsubstantially outward from the center of the container. Such anorientation expands the size of the heating platform and is suitable toaccommodate larger cookware. In addition, the lower non-verticalsegments 150 are also oriented substantially away from a center of thecontainer. This orientation effectively expands the size of the baseupon which the container rests, thus providing a greater amount ofstability. This greater stability is especially useful when a largerpiece of cookware is used on the heating platform. When the hinge pinsare a single piece, both the heating platform and base may beeffectively expanded or reduced in size simultaneously by simplyactuating one end of each hinge pin.

Accordingly, a surface area defined by an outer perimeter OP1 defined bythe non-vertical segments 160 when rotated in a first configuration (aninward facing configuration) as shown in FIG. 9 is smaller than asurface area defined by an outer perimeter OP2 defined by thenon-vertical segments 160 when rotated in a second configuration (anoutward facing configuration) as shown in FIG. 12. Similarly, a surfacearea defined by an outer perimeter OP3 defined by the non-verticalsegments 150 when rotated in a first configuration (an inward facingconfiguration) as shown in FIG. 9 is smaller than a surface area definedby an outer perimeter OP4 defined by the non-vertical segments 160 whenrotated in a second configuration (an outward facing configuration) asshown in FIG. 12.

As shown in the figures, the upper and lower non-vertical segments 150and 160 of the hinge pins 130 are of substantially equal length past the90 degree bend. However, it is to be understood that the length of eachhinge pin 130 (or hinge pin portion) extending past the 90 degree bendcan be of any desired length (e.g., length NV1 and/or length NV2 shownin FIG. 8). In some embodiments, one or more of the lower non-verticalsegments 150 (e.g., length NV2) may be longer than one or more of theupper non-vertical segments 160 (e.g., length NV1). In otherembodiments, one or more of the upper non-vertical segments 160 (e.g.,length NV1) may be longer than one or more of the lower non-verticalsegments 150 (e.g., length NV2). In yet other embodiments, all of theupper non-vertical segments 160 may be of substantially the same length,while in other embodiments two or more of the upper non-verticalsegments 160 may be different lengths. In yet other embodiments, all ofthe lower non-vertical segments 150 may be of substantially the samelength, while in other embodiments two or more of the lower non-verticalsegments 150 may be different lengths.

One additional advantage posed by the container devices described hereinis the ability to adjust the distance between the container 10 (or thepanels 20A through 20D) thereof and the heating platform defined by thenon-vertical segments 160. In an embodiment where the hinge pins 130 aremore than one piece (e.g., include multiple pieces or components ratherthan a monolithic piece), the top portion of the hinge pin which engagesthe top of the hinge and also aids in creation of a portion of, or theentire heating platform, may be varied in its length. For example, asshown in FIG. 24, different top hinge pin portions 201A, 201B havingdifferent lengths (e.g., lengths T1, T2) can be provided and a user canselect a given length of the top hinge pin portion in order to establishthe distance desired between a top of one or more panels (e.g., panels20A through 20D) of a container (e.g., container 10) and the heatingplatform (e.g., heating platform defined by the non-vertical segments160). In use, a hinge pin of desired length may be selected for eachhinge 240 including one of the top hinge pin portions 201A, 201B and asthe container is assembled and can be engaged (e.g., coupled) with abottom hinge portion 202 within (or outside of (e.g., above, below)) thehinge 240. For example, if the top hinge pin portion 201A is selected,the top hinge pin portion 201A may be inserted into a first side (e.g.,top side) of the hinge 240. In some embodiments this top hinge pinportion 201A will be moved (e.g., forced, moved downward) until itmeets, or substantially meets the bottom hinge pin portion 202 which maylikewise be inserted into a second side (e.g., a bottom side) of thehinge and moved (e.g., forced, moved upwards).

In the cases where the hinge pins 130 are a single piece as shown in atleast FIGS. 1 through 23, the height (or distance) of the container 10(or panels 20A through 20D thereof) relative to the heating platform(e.g., heating platform defined by the non-vertical segments 160) may beadjusted by simply sliding one or more of the panels 20A through 20D ofthe container 10 along (e.g., up, down) the hinge pins 130 toward theupper non-vertical segments 160 (or toward the lower non-verticalsegments 150 and/or non-vertical segments 140) until the desireddistance between the top (e.g., top of one or more of the panels 20Athrough 20D) of the container 10 and the upper non-vertical segments 160is achieved. For example, in such embodiment the container 10 (or panels20A through 20D) may be held in place at a specific height or distancefrom the upper non-vertical segments 160 by a mechanism (e.g., a stopmechanism) for so doing. As one example, a clip, band, or othermechanism capable of fastening to, or gripping, one or more of the hingepins 130 below the container 10 can be used in order to prevent thecontainer 10 from slipping back down the hinge pins 130 from its raisedposition.

In another example, the hinge pins 130 themselves may be configured witha shape or function (which can be referred to as a releasable stopmechanism) (not shown), such as a depressible spring button, etc. thatmay function as a stop against which the bottom of one or more of thehinges 30 will rest so as to keep the container 10 (or panels 20Athrough 20D thereof) from moving in an undesirable direction (e.g.,slipping back down) along one or more of the hinge pins 130. In yetanother example, the simple friction fit between an interior of one ormore of the hinges 30 and one or more of the hinge pins 130 may providesufficient force to prevent the container 10 from moving (e.g., slidingback down) the hinge pin(s) 130 after the container 10 has been elevatedtoward the heating platform.

In yet another embodiment, the container 10 can be inverted so that theheating platform (or the non-vertical segments 160) functions the baseand the base (or the non-vertical segments 150) functions as the heatingplatform. In this case, the upper non-vertical segments 160 of the hingepins 130 can function as a stop below which the panels 20A through 20Dof the container 10 may not move. With the combustion plate 100 in aretracted configuration against the side wall as shown in FIG. 13, thecontainer 10 can still be used to contain combustion and use of thecombustion can be made by mounting an object on the lower non-verticalsegments 150, which now act as the heating platform. Any number ofadditional mechanisms for providing the present devices with an abilityto fix the height of the panels 20A through 20D of the container 10 at agiven point along the hinge pins 130 can be utilized.

Referring again to FIG. 1, one or more of the vertical panels 20Athrough 20D may include fuel openings 170. Such fuel openings 170 aredifferent from mere ventilation openings, such as openings 180, as thefuel openings 170 are useful for the insertion of fuel into thecontainer 10. By contrast, ventilation openings 180 are not of asufficient size to realistically accomplish insertion of an amount offuel sufficient to feed and maintain a significant combustion reactionor event. The fuel openings 170 can be labeled or referred to by thepanel in which the fuel opening is included. For example, the fuelopening 170 included in panel 20D can be referred to as fuel opening170D.

The shape and size of the fuel openings 170 may vary greatly dependingon the desired operation and effect. As shown in the figures, the fuelopenings 170 are oval in shape. However, any other geometric shape maybe used as desired including square, rectangle, arcuate, circular, etc.Moreover, the size (e.g., area, profile or shape) of one or more of thefuel openings 170 can be altered as desired. In some aspects, one ormore of the fuel openings 170 may have a fully closed perimeter (orprofile) within one or more of the panels 20A through 20D and in otherembodiments one or more of the fuel openings 170 may have an openperimeter in one or more of the panels 20A through 20D. In this latterembodiment, the fuel opening 170 would extend past an edge of the panelin which it is disposed.

In certain embodiments, one, two, three, or four of the panels 20Athrough 20D may have a fuel opening (e.g., fuel openings 170). Inembodiments where the container 10 includes more than four panels, allor less than all of the panels can have fuel openings (e.g., fuelopenings 170). In some embodiments, the fuel openings 170 may bearranged on adjacent panels. For example, the panel 20C includes fuelopening 170C and the panel 20D, which is joined with panel 20C by hinge30C, includes fuel opening 170D. Although not shown, in otherembodiments, the fuel openings may be located on opposite panels (e.g.,panel 20D and panel 20B, panel 20A and panel 20C.

The locations of fuel openings can be a different heights within thecontainer 10. For example, regarding the location of the fuel openings170 on each of the respective panels 20C, 20D, as shown in FIG. 5, thefuel openings 170 may be located at different heights above the bottomsof the respective panels 20C, 20D. As a specific example, a bottom edge172D of fuel opening 170D can be a different vertical height (ororientation) (within a different horizontal plane) from a bottom (ortop) of the panel 20D (or panel 20C) than a vertical height (ororientation) of a bottom edge 172C of fuel opening 170C from a bottom(or top) of the panel 20C (or panel 20D). As another specific example, atop edge 171D of fuel opening 170D can be a different vertical height(within a different horizontal plane) from a bottom (or top) of thepanel 20D (or panel 20C) than a top edge 171C of fuel opening 170C isvertically oriented from a bottom (or top) of the panel 20C (or panel20D). In some implementations, a bottom edge 172D of fuel opening 170Dcan be vertically disposed above (e.g., above a horizontal plane) orbelow a top edge 171C of fuel opening 170C.

In other embodiments, fuel openings (e.g., fuel openings 170) (e.g., topedges, bottom edges) may be located at substantially the same heightabove the bottoms of the panels 20A through 20D within which they arerespectively disposed. In some implementations, one or more fuelopenings may be aligned vertically along a midpoint or horizontalcenterline of one or more of the panels 20A through 20D.

Fuel openings (e.g., the fuel openings 170) may be located at anydesired lateral location on the panels 20A through 20D. For example, inFIG. 5, the fuel openings 170C, 170D are centered at a location awayfrom the hinge 30C that joins the panels 20C, 20D. As shown in FIG. 5,fuel opening 170C (e.g., a center or centerline of the fuel opening170C) is offset from a centerline R1 (e.g., vertical centerline) of thepanel 20C in a direction away from hinge 30C, and fuel opening 170D(e.g., a center or centerline of the fuel opening 170D) is offset from acenterline R2 of the panel 20D in a direction away from the samehinge—hinge 30C. Accordingly, an area of the fuel opening 170C a firstside (e.g., left side) of the centerline R1 is less than an area of thefuel opening 170C on a second side (e.g., right side) of the centerlineR1. Also, an area of the fuel opening 170D a first side (e.g., leftside) of the centerline R2 is greater than an area of the fuel opening170D on a second side (e.g., right side) of the centerline R2.

In other embodiments the fuel openings 170C, 170D they may be locatedcloser to (e.g., offset from the centerlines R1, R2 toward) the hinge30C adjoining the panels 20C, 20D. Accordingly, the majority of the areaof the openings on one or the other side of the centerlines R1, R2 maybe different. In some implementations, a first fuel opening may beoffset from a centerline of a panel and a second fuel opening mayaligned along a centerline of a panel. Although not shown, in someimplementations, one or more of the fuel openings can be centered abouta centerline of one In yet another embodiment, the location of fuelopening on each panel may be coordinated to work in cooperation with afuel opening on a different panel. Although not shown, in someembodiments, a single panel may have multiple fuel openings or mayexclude a fuel opening and/or a ventilation opening.

In some implementations, a ventilation opening may be on a panelopposite a panel including a fuel opening. For example, as shown in FIG.3, the fuel opening 170D is in panel 20D, which is opposite (on anopposite of the container 10) from ventilation openings 180B included inpanel 20B. Accordingly, the fuel opening 170D faces the ventilationopenings 180B (when the container 10 is an open configuration).Similarly, the fuel opening 170C is in panel 20C, which is opposite (onan opposite of the container 10) from ventilation openings 180A includedin panel 20A. Accordingly, the fuel opening 170C faces the ventilationopenings 180A (when the container 10 is an open configuration). Althoughnot shown, in some implementations, ventilation openings can be onopposite or opposing panels. Also, in some implementations, fuelopenings can be included in opposite or opposing panels.

As shown in at least FIG. 3, the ventilation openings and/or the fuelopenings can be offset from vertical planes (vertical planes S1 and S2,which divide the container 10 into four quadrants Q1 through Q4 whenviewed from above) through a midpoint (e.g., an approximate midpoint) ofthe container 10. For example, the fuel opening 170D and the ventilationopenings 180B are centered at a location that is offset from thevertical plane S2 rather than being centered about the vertical plane S2(which can be through a center or horizontal midpoint of the planes 20Band 20D). Accordingly a greater number or area (e.g., collective area)of ventilation openings 180B are on a first side of the vertical planeS2 than on a second side of the vertical plane S2, and a greater area ofthe fuel opening 170D is on the first side of the vertical plan S2 thanon the second side of the vertical plane S2. Similarly, the fuel opening170C and the ventilation openings 180A are centered at a location thatis offset from the vertical plane S1 rather than being centered aboutthe vertical plane S1 (which can be through a center or horizontalmidpoint of the planes 20A and 20C). Accordingly a greater number orarea (e.g., collective area) of ventilation openings 180A are on a firstside of the vertical plane S1 than on a second side of the verticalplane S1, and a greater area of the fuel opening 170C is on the firstside of the vertical plan S1 than on the second side of the verticalplane S1. In some implementations, the area (or collective area)associated with the fuel openings and/or ventilation openings can bedivided across one or more planes (e.g., plane S1, plane S2).

As shown in at least FIG. 3, the fuel openings 170C, 170D can have asize (or area) that is greater than a size (or area) of each of theventilation openings 180A, 180B. For example, the fuel opening 170C canhave an area that is at least 2 times (e.g., 3 times, 4 times) largerthan an area of one of the ventilation openings 180A.

In some implementations, one or more of the fuel openings can have anarea that is greater than, equal to, or smaller than a collective areaof all of the ventilation openings included in a panel. For example, thefuel opening 170C in panel 20C can have an area that is greater than orequal to a collective area of all of the ventilation openings 180Aincluded in the panel 20A.

Referring now to FIG. 21, the combustion container 10 is shown withpieces of fuel 190 inserted through fuel openings 170 and converging ata desired location within the container 10 (when the container 10 is anopen configuration). In this embodiment, the selected convergence point(or intersection) is near a corner or quadrant of the container thatincludes ventilation openings 180. However, it should be noted that theselected convergence point for the fuel may be at any desired locationwithin the container 10. For example, the container 10 when viewed fromabove can be divided into quadrants Q1 through Q4 by planes S1 and S2(as described in connection with FIG. 3). Accordingly, a majority of anoverlap or intersection of a projection of an area of the ventilationopening 170C as a volume into the chamber 7 of the container 10 and aprojection of an area of the ventilation opening 170D as a volume intothe chamber 7 of the container 10 is in quadrant Q1. Also, a majority ofthe ventilation openings 180A, 180B are also located in the quadrant Q1.

It has been discovered that by converging fuel pieces, a largecombustion reaction can be produced. Much larger in fact that a singlefuel piece by itself. In the exemplified embodiments, the convergence ofthe fuel pieces results in a vertical stacking of the fuel where theends of the fuel pieces 190 overlap one another (e.g., in quadrant Q1).This vertical staking of the fuel allows a greater combustion reactionto take place in a very small space. As such, the overlapping orstacking of fuel pieces provides a significant advantage that aids inminimizing the size of the combustion container 10, while allowing anamount of combustion to occur that is useful, for example, for cooking,heating water, etc.

Referring again to fuel openings 170, as previously mentioned, such fuelopenings can be located at nearly any desired spot on a panel andfurther fuel openings can be specifically located at spots or locationson each panel (e.g., panels 20A through 20D) that allow the fuelopenings to work together or work together more effectively in creatinga convergence point for the fuel pieces 190. For example, as shown inFIG. 22, one fuel opening is higher than the other. In other words, onefuel opening is further away from the bottom of its panel than the otheropening as described above. This tiered configuration is helpful inachieving the convergence of the fuel pieces in a stacked arrangement.Specifically, the fuel pieces rest on the bottom edge (e.g., bottom edge172C, bottom edge 172D) of each fuel opening (e.g., fuel opening 170C,170D) while inserted into the container 10. With the bottom edges ofeach opening at different heights, the vertically stacked convergence ismore easily created and maintained as the top fuel pieces need not reston the bottom fuel pieces to the same degree that would be required ifthe fuel openings 170 were at the same height. In some embodiments, theconverging ends of the fuel pieces need not rest on or touch one anotherat all, but are full supported by bottom edge of the fuel openings 170.

Referring again to FIGS. 21 and 22, in operation, some embodiments allowfuel pieces 190 to extend into the container 10 and create the verticalstacked arrangement while a portion of the fuel pieces 190 remainoutside of the container 10. In this case, the ends of the fuel pieces190 in the container 10 may be combusted while the portions outside thecontainer 10 are not combusted. As the fuel pieces 190 within thecontainer 10 are burned, new fuel may be advanced into the container 10by merely pushing the fuel pieces 190 forward into the container 10 byusing the portions outside the container 10. In this way, a combustionor burn event may be sustained for a much longer amount of time ascompared to merely using fuel that is placed entirely inside of thecontainer 10 all at once. When such arrangement is used, the bottom edge(e.g., bottom edge 172C, bottom edge 172D) of the fuel openings 170 actas an effective fulcrum for the fuel pieces 190 and having the fuelopenings 170 at different heights greatly aids in achieving theoverlapping or vertical stacking arrangement desired.

In some embodiments it is possible to have multiple fuel openings 170 ona single panel at different heights. In yet other embodiments, such fuelopenings 170 can be coordinated with fuel openings 170 in other panelsin order to achieve a specifically desired convergence, or verticalstacked arrangement of the fuel (e.g., fuel pieces 190) inside thecontainer 10.

FIGS. 27A and 27B are diagrams that illustrate support pins 190A, 190Bcoupled to the container 10 according to an implementation. The supportpins 190A, 190B are coupled to the container 10 via openings 15A through15D (which can be referred to as support pin openings). Specifically,support pin 190A has a first portion disposed within the opening 15B(included in panel 20B) and has a second portion disposed within theopening 15C (included in panel 20C). Support pin 190B has a firstportion disposed within the opening 15A (included in panel 20A) and hasa second portion disposed within the opening 15D (included in panel20D).

As shown in FIG. 27A, the support pins 190A, 190B are alignednon-parallel to the panels 20A through 20D when the container is in theopen configuration. In this implementation, the support pins 190A, 190Bare each aligned diagonally within the box-shaped container 10 when thecontainer is in the open configuration. For example, the support pin190A is aligned along a line that intersects panel 20B and panel 20C andthe container 10 is in an open configuration. In some implementations,the support pin 190A can define an angle of approximately 45° with aplane aligned along one or more of the panels 20A, 20B. in someimplementations, the angle can be greater 45° or less than 45°.

FIGS. 27B through 27D are diagrams that illustrate various views of thesupport pin 190A. As shown in FIGS. 27B through 27D, the support pin190A includes a retention portion 191A on a first end and includes aretention portion 192A on a second end opposite the first end. Thesupport pin 190A includes a medial portion 193A disposed between theretention portions 191A, 192A. In some implementations, the support pin190A can be referred to as a hooked pin.

After being inserted through the openings 15A, 15C, the retentionportions 191A, 192A can be used to maintain the support pin 190A withinthe container 10. For example, the retention portion 192A can beinserted into the opening 15C, and the support pin 190A can be movedthrough the opening 15C until the retention portion 192A can be theninserted into and moved through the opening 15B. In this manner, theretention portion 192A can be disposed outside of the exterior surface5B of the panel 20B such that the panel 20B is disposed between theretention portion 192A and the medial portion 193A of the support pin190A. Similarly, the retention portion 191A can be disposed outside ofthe exterior surface 5C of the panel 20C such that the panel 20C isdisposed between the retention portion 191A and the medial portion 193Aof the support pin 190A.

In this implementation, the retention portion 192A of the support pin190A includes an extension portion 195A that extends in a direction thatis orthogonal to (or approximately orthogonal to) the medial portion193A of the support pin 190A. Accordingly, after the support pin 190Ahas been inserted through the openings 15A, 15B, the extension portion195A can be aligned based on the orientation of the container 10 and inresponse to gravity (e.g., in a downward direction along direction A2for example). The support pin 190B (whocn in FIG. 27A) has anorientation with an extension portion (not labeled) that extends in avertical direction along direction A2.

The retention portion 191A of the support pin 190A includes a hookshape. The hook shape of the retention portion 191A may prevent theretention portion 191A from being inserted into or moved through one ormore of the openings 15A, 15B in an undesirable fashion when the supportpin 190A is coupled to the container 10.

In this implementation, the features of the retention portion 191A andthe features of the retention portion 192A are defined so that thesupport pin 190A may be entirely disposed within or aligned along twoplanes. In other words, the retention portion 191A is rotated (ordisposed) axially around the medial portion 193A with respect to theretention portion 192A such that the retention portions 191A, 192A ofthe support pin 190A are disposed within or aligned along differentplanes. As shown in FIG. 27B, the retention portion 191A is alignedalong or disposed within plane M1, which is also aligned along themedial portion 193A between the retention portions 191A, 192A. As shownin FIG. 27C, the retention portion 191A is aligned along or disposedwithin plane M2, which is orthogonal to plane M1 and which is alsoaligned along the medial portion 193A between the retention portions191A, 192A. FIG. 27D, which is viewed from direction N shown in FIG.27B, illustrates that the retention portion 191A and 192A areorthogonally aligned along planes M2 and M1 respectively. Although notshown, in some implementations, the angle between the retention portion191A and the retention portion 192A can be non-orthogonal (e.g., anobtuse angle, an acute angle). Accordingly, in some implementations, theretention portion 191A and the retention portion 192A can be alignedalong non-orthogonal planes. In some implementations, one or more of theretention portions 191A, 192A may be rotated (or disposed) axiallyaround the medial portion 193A such that one or more features of thesupport pin 190A may be disposed within or aligned along a single plane.

The shape of the support pin 190A facilitates coupling of the supportpin 190A to one or more of the panels 20A through 20D when the supportpin 190A is not in use as a support member. For example, as shown inFIG. 28, the support pin 190A can be coupled to a panel 20 (e.g., panel20C). The retention portion 191A is coupled to a first end portion 20-1of the panel 20 or disposed around a first edge of the panel 20 suchthat the panel 20 is disposed between a first portion of the retentionportion 191A and a second portion of the retention portion 191A. Whilethe retention portion 191A is coupled to the first end portion 20-1 ofthe panel 20, the retention portion 192A is disposed on a second endportion 20-2 of the panel 20 (e.g., below a second edge of the secondend portion 20-2). Because the retention portions 191A, 192A areorthogonally aligned, the retention portion 191A is disposed around thefirst end portion of the panel 20-1 and the retention portion 192A isaligned with the panel 20 (aligned along a same plane or parallel to aplane of the panel 20). If the panel 20 includes a tab 120, the tab 120may engage with or contact the extension portion 195A of the retentionportion 192A to prevent undesirable movement along direction A1. Thecoupling of the retention portion 191A with the panel 20 preventsundesirable (e.g., significant) movement of the retention portion 191Aalong direction A2.

In some implementations, the shape of the support pin 190A can enablecoupled of the support pin 190A to the container 10 when the containeris in a closed configuration as shown in FIG. 29. As shown in FIG. 29,the support pin 190A is coupled to the panel 20A. The retention portion191A of the support pin 190A is coupled to a top end portion of thepanel 20A (substantially preventing vertical movement along directionA2) and the retention portion 192A is coupled to a bottom end portion ofthe panel 20A. The retention portion 192A is disposed adjacent the tab120 so that the retention portion 192A engages the tab 120 tosubstantially prevent vertical movement along direction A1. The supportpin 190A is disposed between at least two of the panels in the closedconfiguration of the container 10. In some implementations, multiplesupport pins may be coupled to the container 10 when the container 10 isin the closed configuration.

In some implementations, the retention portions 191A, 192A can havedifferent shapes than shown in FIG. 27B. One or more of the retentionportions 191A, 192A can have a shape that enabled movement of the one ormore of the retention portions 191A, 192A through one or more of theopenings 15B, 15C. In some implementations, the retention portion 191Acan have a same shape as the retention portion 192A. In someimplementations, the support pin 190A can have a same shape or adifferent shape as the support pin 190B.

The support pins 190A, 190B, when coupled to the container 10, may notonly provide structural rigidity for the container 10, but can also beused to support a variety of accessories including a burner (e.g., aTrangia burner, a butane burner), a grill plate, and/or so forth. Atleast a portion of an accessory may be disposed between or disposed on(e.g., disposed on top of) one or more of the support pins 190A, 190B.For example, in the case of a burner, at least a first portion of theburner may be disposed between the support pins 190A, 190B, and a secondportion of the burner may be disposed on top of one or more of thesupport pins 190A, 190B. In some implementations, the burner may haveone or more clips configured to be coupled to one or more of the supportpins 190A, 190B. In some implementations, portions of the accessories,such as a hose of a burner, may be moved through one or more of theventilation openings 180 and/or the fuel openings 170. An example of agrill plate accessory that can be supported by the support pins 190A,190B is shown in FIG. 30.

FIG. 30 illustrates a grill plate 585 according to an implementation. Asshown in FIG. 30, the grill plate 585 includes several openings 570. Insome implementations, the openings 570 can have a slot shape as shown inFIG. 30. In some implementations, the openings 570 can have a differentshape such as an oval shape, a square shape, a circular shape, a curvedshape, a stair like profile, and/or so forth. Also, as shown in FIG. 30,the openings 570 are aligned along a variety of directions and areseparated by a variety of widths. In this implementation, at least someof the openings 570 are aligned parallel to at least one of the edges(e.g., edge 572A, 572B, 572C, 572D) of the grill plate 585 and at leastsome of the openings 570 are aligned non-parallel to at least one of theedges.

In some implementations, the grill plate 585, which can be a surfaceupon which, for example, a food item, can be cooked, can insteadfunction as a fire grate upon which a combustible fuel may be disposedand combusted. Such an embodiment is described in connection with atleast FIG. 36.

In some implementations, the openings 570 can have a uniform length, auniform width, a uniform orientation, a uniform separation, and/or soforth. In some implementations, the openings 570 can have a non-uniformlength, a non-uniform width, a non-uniform orientation, a non-uniformseparation, and/or so forth.

As shown in FIG. 30, the grill plate 585 has a non-square outerperimeter 572 or profile. At least one corner of the grill plate 585 candefine a right angle. In this implementation, at least two of thecorners of the grill plate 585 define an obtuse or acute angle. In someimplementations, a grill plate can have a square profile or outerperimeter 572.

Referring back to FIG. 27A, although a pair of support pins 190A, 190Bis illustrated in FIG. 27A. In some implementations, more or less thantwo support pins 190A, 190B may be coupled to the container 10. In someimplementations, a support pin (e.g., support pin 190A) may be coupledvia a combination of different openings. For example, a support pin maybe coupled to the container 10 via a combination of openings 15A and 15B(which are included in adjacent panels 20A and 20B), or openings 15A and15C (which are on opposing sides in opposite panels 20A and 20C) ratherthan openings 15B and 15C.

Although not shown in FIG. 27A, in some implementations, more supportopenings than shown (more than openings 15A through 15D) can be includedin one or more of the panels 20A through 20D. Accordingly, a support pin(e.g., support pin 190A, 190B) may be optionally coupled to thecontainer 10 at various vertical heights or depths. Also, the supportpin may be optionally coupled to the container 10 at various laterallocations and/or angles with respect to the panels 20A through 20D toaccommodate a variety of accessories (including those described above).

Referring back to FIG. 6, in some implementations, when a combustionreaction is occurring in the chamber 7, a gas (e.g., air, wind) movingin a lateral direction (e.g., direction Z) can decrease theeffectiveness of heat transfer from the chamber 7 to an object disposedon the heating platform defined by the non-vertical segments 160. Thiscan be a particular issue in the area 9 shown with a dashed line. Thisregion is defined by an upper edge of one or more of the panels 20Athrough 20D and a bottom surface of a heating platform defined by thenon-vertical segments 160. Accordingly, a blocking plate can be disposedin this area to block adverse conditions to heating. An example of ablocking plate and use of a blocking plate are described in connectionwith at least FIGS. 31 and 32.

FIG. 31 is a diagram that illustrates a perspective view of a blockingplate 260 according to an implementation. As shown in FIG. 31, blockingplate 260 includes extensions 261, 262 and coupling mechanisms 263through 265. The extensions 261, 262 can be used in conjunction with thecoupling mechanisms 263 through 265 to couple the blocking plate 260 tothe container 10.

The blocking plate 260 shown in FIG. 31 includes a blocking region 26.In some implementations, a height H1 of the blocking region 26 can beapproximately equal to a height between a heating platform defined bynon-vertical segments 160 (e.g., shown in FIG. 6) and a top edge of oneor more of the panels 20A through 20D. In some implementations, theheight H1 can be greater than or less than the height between a heatingplatform defined by non-vertical segments 160 (e.g., shown in FIG. 6)and a top edge of one or more of the panels 20A through 20D.

A width H2 of the blocking region 26 can be approximately equal to awidth of one or more of the panels 20A through 20D. In thisimplementation, an overall width of the blocking plate 260 is greaterthan a width of the blocking region 26 and is greater than a width ofone or more of the panels 20A through 20D. In some implementations, thewidth H2 of the blocking region 26 can be less than or greater than awidth of one or more of the panels 20A through 20D.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view that illustrates the blocking plate 260shown in FIG. 31 coupled to a container 10. In this illustration, a pot2 is disposed on a heating platform defined by the non-vertical segments160. As shown in FIG. 32, the coupling mechanisms 264 and 265 aredisposed on a first side (an exterior side) of the panel 20A and thecoupling mechanism 263 (not shown) is disposed on a second side (andinterior side) of the panel 20A. Accordingly, the panel 20A is disposedbetween a first coupling mechanism and a second coupling mechanism.

Although the coupling mechanisms 263 through 265 are shown in FIGS. 31and 32 as tabs (or protrusions), in some implementations, a differentcoupling mechanism can be included in a blocking plate. For example, oneor more coupling mechanisms included in a blocking plate (e.g., blockingplate 260) can be, or can include, a clip, a pin, a pressfit mechanism,a screw, a spring, and/or so forth. In some implementations, a blockingplate can include more or less than three coupling mechanisms as shownin FIGS. 31 and 32. Any of the features (e.g., accessories, blockingplate, embodiments) described above in connection with at least FIGS. 1through 32 can be applied to additional containers such as thecontainers described below in connection with FIGS. 33A through 36.

FIG. 33A is a diagram that illustrates another container 2000 includingpanels 520 joined by hinges 530 (similar to the panels 20A through 20Dand hinges 30A through 30D described above). At least one of the panels520 includes a relief space feature 580 (similar to relief space feature80 described above). The container 2000 can include any of the featuresdescribed in connection with the container 10 shown in FIGS. 1 through32.

As shown in FIG. 33A, a plate 540 is coupled to a bottom portion of thecontainer 2000. In some implementations, the plate 540 can function asan ash tray. The plate 140 may be used to collect ashes or other debrisfalling from a combustion plate (not shown). Generally the plate 540 isa solid sheet of material that is combustion proof or fire proof, suchas the metal material of the rest of the container 2000. In some aspectsthe plate 540 is substantially flat, and may in some embodiments haveupwardly curling edges on one or more opposing ends thereof. Such end(s)may facilitate or ease the ability of a user to grasp the plate 540 whenplaced on the ground or other flat surface. Additionally, as shown inFIG. 33A, in some embodiments, the plate 540 may have a handle or otherfeatures which allow its handling when hot.

In some embodiments, the plate 540 may fit between opposing panels 520of the container 2000. In some embodiments, the shape of the plate 540may be tapered at one end in order to accommodate a tapered trapezoidalor trapezium shape of the opening of the container 2000 in view of thefact that a first opposing pair (on opposite sides of the container2000) of the panels 520 (between which the plate 540 may be inserted)may be non-parallel or more narrow than a second opposing pairs of thepanels 520. In some aspects, one or more of the panels 520 may have amechanism 545 (e.g., a lip, a ledge, a slot, a dimple, a protrusion, atab, or other feature) for engaging the plate 540 and holding it upabove a bottom surface (or edge of a panel 540) of the combustioncontainer 2000 and/or a surface upon which the combustion container 2000may rest when in use.

As shown in FIG. 33B, the plate 540 may be inserted into the container2000 in a position above one or more dimples 543 included in thecontainer 2000. The dimples 543 (which can be referred to as supportfeatures) can define a protrusion disposed within the container 2000 sothat the protrusion may help to support the plate 540. A portion 541 ofthe plate 540 disposed within the container 2000 above the dimples 543is illustrated with a dashed line. In this implementations, the plate540 is further optionally supported by support pins 590A, 590B inserted,respectively, into (e.g., disposed within) the opening 547 and the slot548 (each of which may be optionally included in one or more of thepanels 520). In some implementations, features other than dimples 543such as a tab, can be included in one or more of the panels 520. Otheradditional slots, openings, etc. can be defined within one or more ofthe panels 520 for insertion of support pins. A perspective view of thesupport pin 590A is illustrated in FIG. 34. A support pin can have adifferent shape or size than shown in FIG. 34.

In some implementations, multiple plates can be included in thecontainer 2000. For example, a first plate can be included in thecontainer 2000 in the vertical position shown in FIG. 33A and a secondplate can be included in the container 2000 in the vertical positionshown in FIG. 33B.

As shown in FIG. 33C, at least a portion of the plate 540 can beslidably moved into (lateral or horizontal direction I2) and out(lateral or horizontal direction I1) of the container 2000. For example,the plate 540 can be slidably moved along direction I1 and/or alongdirection I2 when in the vertical position shown in FIG. 33B or 33C, orwhen in the vertical position shown in FIG. 33A. When the plate 540 isin the lateral position shown in FIG. 33B, the plate 540 can be referredto as being in a closed position, and when the plate 540 is in thelateral position shown in FIG. 33C, the plate 540 can be referred to asbeing in an open position or in a partially open position. Because theplate 540 (as shown in FIG. 33B or 33C can be in contact with orrelatively close to a combustion plate included in the container 2000,the plate 540 can function as a damper. This is described in more detailin connection with FIG. 35.

FIG. 35 is a diagram that illustrates a combustion plate 500 withopenings 502 as viewed from direction N shown in FIG. 33C. The plate 540is disposed below the combustion plate 500. The portion 541 of the plate540 can be seen through at least a portion of the openings 502. In thisimplementations, an edge 542 (e.g., front edge) of the plate 540, whichis in a partially open configuration, can be seen through at least someof the openings 502 of the combustion plate 500.

FIG. 36 is a diagram that illustrates a front view of the container 2000shown in FIGS. 33A through 33C. As shown in FIG. 36, the support pins590A, 590B can be disposed within openings 582 in the panel 520. Theopenings 582 can define slots or slits. In some implementations, theopenings 582 can be a different shape (e.g., circular shape, a squareshape, an oval shape, a curved shape, etc.) than shown in FIG. 36. Thesupport pins 590A, 590B can be configured to support a variety ofaccessories such as those described above in connection with at leastFIGS. 27A through 30. Such as a burner, a grill plate, a fire grate,and/or so forth. Because at least some of the openings 582 havedifferent orientations (e.g., different vertical heights, lateralpositions, widths, alignments (e.g., vertical alignments, horizontalalignments), accessories can be disposed within the container 2000 in avariety of orientations (horizontal orientation, non-horizontalorientation). In some implementations, the openings 582 can function asexpansion openings that allow for mechanical expansion of materials (ofthe panel 520) in response to heat within the container 2000. Any of thefeatures described above in connection with at least FIGS. 33A through36 can be applied to additional containers such as the container 10described above in connection with FIGS. 1 through 32.

As shown in FIG. 36, a grill plate (not shown) may be disposed on (orwithin) a top portion 2000A (e.g., along a top edge of the panels) ofthe container 2000. A combustion plate (e.g., combustion plate 500 shownin FIG. 35) (not shown in FIG. 36) may be disposed on (or within) abottom portion 2000C of the container 2000. A fire grate (e.g., thegrill plate 585 shown in FIG. 30), upon which a fuel may be combusted,may be vertically disposed within portion 2000B (e.g., a medial portion)between the grill plate and the combustion plate. The fire grate may besupported within the container 2000 by one or more of the support pins590A, 590B. Accordingly, a distance (e.g., a vertical distance) betweenthe fire grate and the grill plate (which is disposed above the firegrate) may be adjusted, and a distance (e.g., a vertical distance)between the fire grate and the combustion plate (which is disposed belowthe fire grate) may be adjusted. Thus, a distance between the fire plate(and a combusting fuel thereon) and the grill plate may be adjusted.Also, a distance between the fire plate (and a combusting fuel thereon)and the combustion plate (e.g., combustion plate 500) and/or between thefire plate and a damper system including the plate 540 (which may beoptionally included) and the combustion plate 500 may be adjusted.

The combustion container 10 and its various parts may be made from avariety of materials which can withstand the exposure to heat producedby the combustion process. Metals, such as iron, steel, stainless steel,aluminum, bronze, tin, and the like, as well as alloys thereof may beused.

The singular forms “a,” “an,” and, “the” include plural referents unlessthe context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to“an edge” includes reference to one or more of such edges, and referenceto “the hinge” includes reference to one or more of such hinges.

As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete ornearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property,state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is“substantially” enclosed would mean that the object is either completelyenclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree ofdeviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on thespecific context. However, generally speaking the nearness of completionwill be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and totalcompletion were obtained. The use of “substantially” is equallyapplicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the completeor near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state,structure, item, or result. For example, a composition that is“substantially free of” holes would either completely lack holes, or sonearly completely lack holes that the effect would be the same as if itcompletely lacked holes. In other words, a composition that is“substantially free of” an ingredient or element may still actuallycontain such item as long as there is no measurable effect thereof.

As used herein, the term “about” is used to provide flexibility to anumerical range endpoint by providing that a given value may be “alittle above” or “a little below” the endpoint.

As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositionalelements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list forconvenience. However, these lists should be construed as though eachmember of the list is individually identified as a separate and uniquemember. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as ade facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based ontheir presentation in a common group without indications to thecontrary.

Numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format.It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely forconvenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly toinclude not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limitsof the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values orsub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value andsub-range is explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical rangeof “about 1 to about 5” should be interpreted to include not only theexplicitly recited values of about 1 to about 5, but also includeindividual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus,included in this numerical range are individual values such as 2, 3, and4 and sub-ranges such as from 1-3, from 2-4, and from 3-5, etc., as wellas 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, individually. This same principle applies toranges reciting only one numerical value as a minimum or a maximum.Furthermore, such an interpretation should apply regardless of thebreadth of the range or the characteristics being described.

The following exemplary embodiments are provided to illustrate variousfeatures and advantages, but not to provide limitations thereon. Each ofthe various features described below can be included in any combinationexcept for mutually exclusive combinations.

In one example, the collapsible combustion container includes aplurality of vertically oriented panels joined by hinges, a plurality ofhinge pings engaged in a plurality of said hinges, said hinge pinsconfigured to form at least part of a base that supports the containeror at least part of a heating platform above the container or both, andfuel openings in at least two of the vertically oriented panels, saidfuel openings configured to facilitate control of a combustion pointwithin the container at a location where fuel inserted through oneopening contacts fuel inserted from another opening.

In one example, the hinge pins are configured to form at least part of abase that supports the container. In one example, the hinge pins includea non-vertical segment below the container. In one example, thenon-vertical segment maintains the container at a pre-determined heightabove a surface on which the base rests. In one example, thenon-vertical segment provides a protrusion on which the container canrest.

In one example, the non-vertical segment includes a portion runningsubstantially parallel to a bottom of the container. In one example, thenon-vertical segment is a bend in the hinge pin of about 90 degrees. Inone example, the hinge pins are configured to form at least a part of aheating platform above the container.

In one example, the hinge pins include a non-vertical segment above atop of the container. In one example, the non-vertical segment is a bendin the hinge pin of about 90 degrees. In one example, the hinge pins area single piece having both a non-vertical segment below the containerand a non-vertical segment above the container. In one example, thenon-vertical segments are each a bend in the hinge pin of about 90degrees. In one example, the non-vertical segments extend in the samedirection as one another.

In one example, the non-vertical segments extend in different directionsfrom one another. In one example, the hinge pin can freely rotate withinthe hinge and an orientation of one end of the hinge pin can becontrolled by actuation of the other end of the hinge pin.

In one example, the base and the heating platform can be expanded orreduced simultaneously by actuation of one end of the hinge pins. In oneexample, every hinge includes a hinge pin. In one example, less thanevery hinge includes a hinge pin. In one example, each hinge pin isuniformly shaped. In one example, all hinge pins are not uniformlyshaped. In one example, the fuel openings are placed at locations in thepanels that allow fuel inserted through each opening to converge at adesired location for combustion within the container.

In one example, fuel openings are located in adjacent vertical panels.In one example, all panels include a fuel opening. In one example, atleast two panels, but less than all panels includes a fuel opening. Inone example, the fuel openings are located in opposite vertical panels.In one example, the fuel openings have a fully closed perimeter in thepanels. In one example, the fuel openings have an open perimeter in thepanels. In one example, the fuel openings are located at substantiallycorresponding locations in the panels.

In one example, the fuel openings are located at substantially the sameheight. In one example, the fuel openings are located at substantiallydifferent heights. In one example, the fuel openings have substantiallythe same shape and/or size in each panel. In one example, the fuelopenings have substantially different shapes and/or sizes in each panel.In one example, the fuel opening of one panel is sufficiently higherthan the fuel opening of another panel to allow convenient overlap offuel at a point where it converges inside the container.

In one example, the fuel rests on a bottom edge of each opening. In oneexample, the fuel is not required to rest on another piece of fuel at apoint where it converges inside the container. In one example,combustion is intensified at the location where fuel from one openingconverges with fuel from another opening. In one example, a bottom panelis joined to one of the vertical panels, said bottom panel being capableof folding into a vertical orientation upon collapse of the container,and into a horizontal orientation upon opening of said container.

In one example, a method of controlling a size of a base and/or aheating platform of a collapsible combustion container may includeproviding a container as recited herein, and actuating an end of hingepins in the container in a manner selected to either expand or reduce asize of a base or a heating platform, or both. In one example,adjustment of both the base and heating platform occur simultaneouslyupon actuating one end of said hinge pins.

In one example, a method of controlling a location of combustion insidea combustion container can include providing a container as recitedherein, and inserting fuel pieces through fuel openings in the containersuch that the fuel pieces from each opening converge at a locationwithin the container that is the desired combustion location.

Of course, it is to be understood that the above-described arrangementsare only illustrative of the application of the principles. Numerousmodifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope and theappended claims are intended to cover such modifications andarrangements. Thus, while the implementations have been described abovewith particularity and detail in connection with what is presentlydeemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, numerousmodifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size,materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly anduse may be made without departing from the principles and concepts setforth herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container, comprising: a first panel and asecond panel each being vertically oriented and coupled by a firsthinge; a third panel coupled to the second panel via a second hinge; anda hinge pin included in the first hinge, the hinge pin configured to atleast define part of a base configured to support the first panel ordefine at least part of a heating platform disposed above the firstpanel.